Page 21

SIXTEEN

ASHER

A sher adjusted his red tie as he watched Danica dart across the town square that morning.

Her floral sundress swirled around her legs as she moved with purpose from one vendor to the next, her clipboard held against her chest like a battle shield.

The festival's second day was even more packed than the first, with families filling every corner of the square.

"Your mate is something else, Alpha." Mrs. Finch handed him a glass of lemonade, her dragon-sharp eyes following Danica's path through the crowd.

"She certainly is." Pride swelled in his chest, expanding with each breath. His inner dragon roared with satisfaction at the sight of Danica commanding the festival like she'd been born to do it.

Asher straightened the cuffs of his navy suit and checked his watch—a timepiece that had belonged to his father. Another hour before the afternoon demonstrations. He scanned the crowd, constantly monitoring his territory while maintaining the easy smile expected of the town mayor.

Across the square, Danica defused a dispute between two food vendors with a few words and that winning smile that made his blood simmer. She hadn't once complained about being thrust into this role, despite the complexity of managing a festival for creatures she'd never spent any time around.

"Never seen the festival run this smoothly. Town's talking about nothing else," Councilman Davis clapped him on the shoulder. "By the way, congratulations on finding your mate. About damn time, Ectorius."

"Thanks," Asher replied, his attention fixating on Danica as she knelt to help a small child who had dropped her festival treat. Even from this distance, he could see her gentle smile as she replaced the fallen cotton candy for the girl.

"Even though she's human," Councilman Davis added, the words coming with a note of hesitation.

Asher turned, fixing Davis with a hard stare that made the older man take an instinctive step back. "She's mine."

With that, he strode away, the crowd parting before him like water. His temper had been hair-trigger since finding Danica—as though his dragon instincts had awakened fully after decades of slumber.

He paused at the main stage, where The Firebreathers were setting up. "Everything on schedule?"

The lead guitarist, a younger dragon named Charlie, nodded. "Yes, sir. Miss Ulrich already came by with the updated lineup. She's... impressive."

"That she is." Asher couldn't keep the possessive edge from his voice.

He moved through the festival, pausing to thank elder dragons, shake hands with council members, and listen to concerns from his people. All the while, he tracked Danica's movements, making sure he knew exactly where she was at all times.

When he finally caught up to her, she was directing a group of teenagers setting up for their performance.

"The spacing needs to be wider—we can't have you tripping over each other." She demonstrated with her hands. "Like this, see?"

"Are you always giving orders?" Asher stepped behind her, close enough to catch her scent but not touching her yet. "That's the Alpha's job, last I checked."

Danica spun to face him, her cheeks flushed from exertion. "Someone has to make sure your townspeople don't trip over each other and accidentally get hurt."

"Well, I appreciate your concern for my townspeople." He leaned closer, pitching his voice for her ears alone. "Speaking of my townspeople, everyone's talking about what an incredible festival this is—and what an incredible mate I've found."

Something flickered in her eyes—uncertainty?—before she smiled. "Good to know my professional reputation remains intact."

Before he could question that flash of vulnerability, she was pulled away by another crisis—this time involving the dessert competition judging schedule.

The day continued in this pattern. Asher fulfilled his duties as mayor and Alpha while he watched Danica shine in every interaction and every challenge.

By late afternoon, his chest felt ready to burst with pride and something deeper, more primal—a need to claim her officially.

He needed to ensure every dragon and human alike knew she was his.

"You've outdone yourself, Alpha." The elder dragons who had criticized him for years were now nodding with respect. "The festival hasn't been this alive in decades."

"The credit belongs to Danica." His eyes sought her across the festival grounds, finding her directing the setup for the evening's bonfire.

"She brings out something in you we haven't seen before." The elder dragon's eyes gleamed with approval. "Something the town has desperately needed for the past five years."

As sunset painted the sky in brilliant shades of orange and crimson, Asher surveyed the festival grounds with satisfaction.

Lanterns hung from tree branches illuminated the pathways where townspeople strolled, laughing and celebrating.

By any measure, the Founders Festival had been an unprecedented success – thanks largely to the woman in the floral dress directing a group of children on proper cleanup procedures.

Yet something wasn't right.

Asher's dragon instincts, honed over centuries of his bloodline protecting this territory, prickled uncomfortably.

Danica had been distant since their shower this morning – efficient, professional, but emotionally withdrawn.

Every time he'd tried to corner her for a proper conversation, she'd slipped away with a ready excuse about some festival emergency that needed her attention.

"We should head back and change for the closing ceremony," he said when he finally managed to catch her alone. "I want to wear the formal attire for tonight's shifting ceremony."

"Of course." Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "I'll just finish this checklist first."

At his mansion, she practically bolted for the guest bedroom, calling over her shoulder, "We don't have much time. I'll be quick!"

The bedroom door closed with finality, leaving Asher standing alone in the hallway, his jaw clenched tight. This wasn't the woman who'd challenged his every decision with a spark in her eyes. This wasn't the mate who'd matched his passion with her own last night.

His dragon senses flared with warning. Something was very wrong.

"I'm heading to my room to change," he called loudly. "Wait for me downstairs when you're ready."

He made a show of closing his bedroom door loudly. Then he silently moved to the banister overlooking the main floor, strategically out of sight. Five minutes later, Danica emerged from the guest bedroom, and Asher's breath caught in his throat.

The red silk dress hugged every curve of her body, and the low neckline revealed the smooth expanse of her skin. She looked beautiful and powerful. But something else caused his eyes to widen further. She was carrying her suitcase and rushing down the stairs toward the front door.

Asher's heart constricted. She was leaving. Without a word. Without explanation.

Not his mate. Not while he drew breath.

He vaulted over the railing, landing with feline grace directly in front of her. Danica gasped, stumbling backward, her brown eyes wide.

"Going somewhere?" His voice emerged deeper than usual, his dragon close to the surface. "I thought we agreed to wait for each other."

"I—I thought you were busy changing." Her fingers tightened around the suitcase handle. She smelled of lavender and fear, an intoxicating and troubling combination.

"That doesn't answer my question." He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "Were you planning to leave right after the closing ceremony? Or were you skipping the night shifting altogether?"

Tears welled in her eyes, but she remained silent, her lower lip trembling with the effort of maintaining her composure. The sight shattered something in his chest. His mate was in pain.

"Danica." He gentled his tone, reaching out his hand to touch her face. "Talk to me. What happened between last night and this morning?"

She looked up at him, a teardrop finally escaping to slide down her cheek, and Asher knew with bone-deep certainty he would move mountains, burn cities, or challenge the entire world to keep this woman by his side and wipe that sorrow from her eyes.

Asher's finger caught the teardrop as it slid down her cheek, the diamond-like droplet balancing on his fingertip. His dragon stirred under his skin, enraged that something had made her cry. Someone had hurt what was his, and that was utterly unacceptable.

"Tell me," he commanded softly, his voice a velvet rumble. His hand cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. "Are you leaving now or after the ceremony?"

Danica's eyes fluttered closed, her lashes dark against her skin. "I don't know. I haven't decided yet."

The silk of her red dress shimmered in the light as her chest rose with a shuddering breath. Every instinct in Asher's body screamed at him to gather her close, and to wrap her in his protection and never let go. But he held back, sensing she needed space to speak.

"What's wrong?" He kept his voice gentle though his blood boiled with the need to fix whatever was wrong. "Was it the wolf attack? I know that was terrifying, but I promise you I'll never let anything?—"

"It's not just that." Her voice cracked like thin ice.

"Then what?" He stepped closer, crowding her space deliberately, using his height and presence to make her look up. He needed to see her eyes. "My world is different from yours, I understand that. But I thought... I hoped you'd at least talk to me before giving up on us."

His dragon roared inside his mind, shrieking at the very concept of her walking away from him. It had been only days, and already the thought of her absence felt like a physical wound.

"You can tell me anything," he continued, his voice softening to a whisper. "I would never judge you for your feelings, Danica. Not ever."

She swallowed, her eyelids flickering as if gathering courage. "There are things I haven't told you."

Asher's heart hammered against his ribs. Whatever it was, he would fix it. He was Alpha. He was an Ectorius. A defender. There was nothing he couldn't overcome for her.

"Someone left me a note," she finally said, her voice so small he had to lean closer. "It said, 'A true mate wouldn't destroy what he was born to protect. The Alpha is blind. The town will never follow an outsider or a human.'"

A growl escaped his throat before he could stop it. His vision tinged with red at the edges, his dragon surging to the surface at the hostility against his mate.

"And then this morning," she continued, her gaze dropping to the floor, "I heard you with the council.

They called me a liability. You said you would minimize the risk.

" The words tumbled out now, faster and desperate.

"I understand. I'm not one of you. I'm just a human who plans parties, and your people need?—"

"Stop." Asher caught her chin, tilting her face up forcefully, his eyes burning into hers. "We weren't talking about removing you from the town. We were talking about protecting you."

Confusion flickered across her features.

"The council was worried because I told them about the wolf attack," he explained, his thumb brushing away another tear. "And yes, we're aware that tensions in town are rising. Not everyone's happy with me having a human mate, and if someone wanted to make a statement, they might use you to do it."

Understanding dawned in her eyes, and Asher felt the knot in his chest loosen slightly.

"When I said we needed to minimize the risk, I meant I needed to increase your protection and minimize the risk to you." He stepped closer still. "Not push you out of my life. I would never want you away from me."

His voice dropped to a growl as he took the suitcase from her hand and tossed it aside. It hit the hardwood floor with a satisfying thump.

"I want you by my side forever."

The tension in her shoulders eased, her body softening toward him. Asher slid his arm around her small waist, pulling her flush against his body, relishing the feel of her curves against his body. He lowered his mouth to her ear, inhaling her sweet scent.

"Whoever wrote that note will answer to me personally," he promised, the heat of his anger mixing with desire. "And they'll learn what happens when someone threatens what belongs to an Ectorius Alpha."